The construction of a functional water butt turns out to be more complex than expected. Of course, you also benefit from cost savings and environmental protection if you set up a simple bin in the garden. Useful accessories, however, make operation much easier. In addition to a drain cock and a possible connection, a hose is also recommended. In this article you can read how to connect it and what benefits you can achieve with it.
A hose on the rain barrel is very practical
Why connect a hose?
- More flexibility
- Automatic watering
- overflow protection
More flexibility
So that you can collect rainwater in a targeted manner, you must connect your water butt to a downpipe. This normally requires a location directly on the gutter. However, if you connect a hose, you have the option of setting up your water butt about five meters away. This is particularly advantageous if you want to hide your water butt because of the unsightly appearance.
Automatic watering
Certainly you use the water from your water butt primarily for watering flowers. Isn't it tiresome to keep dipping the watering can over the edge to scoop up water? A connected hose that you lay in the garden conveys the water into the beds all by itself. In this way, you can, for example, water your greenhouse without having to do anything yourself. It is important that there is a water pressure of at least 0.5 bar in the barrel. Only under this condition does the water flow into the hose by itself. You may have to set up the rain barrel in an elevated place.
overflow protection
Some days it rains without a break. A blessing for people who catch the precipitation and use it for the garden or household. It is only annoying when the volume exceeds the capacity of the rain barrel, the water overflows and is lost in the ground. By connecting two rain barrels (€53.99) together, you avoid this waste. If one bin is full, it passes the water on to the next container. A hose is the simplest connection between the water butts.
Connect the hose to the water butt and downspout
- You need an attachment tube with a hose connection.
- Cut an appropriately sized hole in the downspout.
- Insert the detachable tube.
- Drill a hole in the water butt 10cm below the top rim.
- Connect the detachable pipe and water butt with the hose.